SOMERSWORTH — Residents and Planning Board members sounded off at a public discussion of the proposed subdivision to be built on the old Sunningdale Golf Club property.

There was little debate that a conservational subdivision plan should be utilized over a conventional one, however, there were still concerns about introducing 179 new homes and the increased traffic, city maintenance costs and added stress on the public school system the project will create. The board also voted to label the project a “development of regional impact.”

The discussion was part of the Planning Board’s agenda Wednesday night and comprised nearly two hours of the evening.

The developer, his attorney and the project’s engineer and landscape architect all spoke about the proposed subdivision and then opened up the conversation to the public and board members for input before they move forward with any formal application and complete project plan.

Attorney Malcolm R. McNeill, of Dover, representing the property’s new owner, Twelve Month LLC., first explained that his client has no relationship whatsoever with the prior owner of the property nor is the prior owner a participant in the proposal.

He then said his client would like to utilize the city’s new Conservation Subdivision Ordinance, which was passed on Aug. 26, to utilize open space and creative design over a conventional cookie-cutter subdivision.

Landscape architect and site planner, Douglas Greiner of Salisbury, spoke specifically about what a conservational plan would look like.

“It would have a real sense of arrival, destination and privacy,” he said. “The long treed areas that defined the (golf course’s) fairways, will be defining features … We want to preserve as many of those trees as possible to add overall sense of place to the project.”

Greiner said remarkable projects are created with creativity and flexibility and the developer’s want to “get away from what everyone else does.”

Although the original plan detailed a conventional style subdivision, so as to determine the number of lots possible, a conservational plan was displayed illustrating homes spread out into clusters of cul-de-sac villages with green space, trails, small parks and a pond.

The plan itself was well received; however, it would create much smaller lot sizes at 8,000 and 10,000 square feet as compared to lot sizes ranging from 15,000 to 53,000 square feet and averaging 16,500 square feet in a conventional plan.

McNeil said because of its size, the project would be multiphased and take more than two years. The homes themselves, which would be “stick built” rather than modular, would cost $200,000 to $300,000 and be upscale ranch and two-level New England style homes. The subdivision would serve as a multigenerational and starter home community.

“This is a very large scale project for any community and certainly a large scale one for Somersworth,” said McNeil.

Seven residents spoke rather unfavorably of the impact that 179 new homes and families might have on traffic, drainage and increased attendance in the schools.

Several expressed the sentiment that Somersworth has a bad reputation, an inadequate school system, traffic congestion and high taxes and asked, “Who is going to buy all of these houses?”

Many felt although the conservational plan looked appealing, they didn’t necessarily want more people knocking up against their property lines and traffic creating more problems on Stackpole Road.

Mark Rideout, of Glenview Road, said, “Getting out of Stackpole onto Green Street is dicey at best because of traffic. When Sunningdale was running, that was dicey and there were a number of accidents down in there.”

City Manager Bob Belmore thanked residents for sharing their concerns, many of which he shared as well, but reminded them, “This is just a preliminary review. A formal application will have more detailed plans, address traffic and drainage and there will be more public hearings.”

Anthony Delyani, vice chairman of the board, said, “These folks will have to come before us many more times before they put a shovel in the ground or sell a house.”

Belmore refuted the remarks about Somersworth being an undesirable place to live or learn and said the city is taking great strides in making improvements. His major concerns were on immediate and future costs related to maintenance of any sidewalks and trails.

McNeil said of property owner Joseph Falzone, “This man wants to invest in the community in a big way and I think that says something.”

The board ended the discussion by voting to formally label the project a development of regional impact due to its proximity to and potential impact on Rollinsford.